First time I ever locked myself out of my truck.

I pulled my 2023 SR5 into a gas station, and somehow (I didn't DO it, it wasn't MY fault!), as the bell was dinging, I pulled the key and dropped it on the seat, closed the door, and only after I started pumping did I discover that the doors were now locked. Somebody must have squeezed the lock button while I was pulling it out.

I got hold of a good friend who went to my house and got the spare key and brought it to me.

My old Tacoma, 2002, had a plain flat key, and I kept a hidden copy. But now with 2 keys that look like what the manual calls Type C, I'm not sure how to do it. I live in NH, and I don't like hiding an expensive key like that where the salty spray is gonna get at it. I never did like the Hide A Key thing, wouldn't a thief look for that first?

I have a vague memory that when I bought it, the truck came with a plain key that would open the door but wouldn't start the truck. But I can't find it, or anything in the manual about it.

If I had a plain key I could have gotten in and then the fob key would be there

If not I guess I could figure out a container to put the extra key in (that looked like something other than a Hide A Key) and then hide that, so the electronics would be safe.

I bet this has been discussed here but I didn't find my specific answer. If it's already answered then someone could point me there and save doing it all over

Thanks

 

You can still cut a plain key that'll open the door lock to let you back in. It just won't handshake with the electronics if you try to use it to start the truck. Like you said, a fob might not like being exposed to the elements all the time.

Check out the hitch vaults - never used one but saw them a lot at the beach where people were surfing, etc.

 

I had a similar thing happen to me. Now I just ignore the bell with the door open, or take the key with me. I don't care for the hidden key containers that I've seen, I'm sure it wouldn't be there when I really needed it. Maybe a simple program of- no weight on the seats, key is inside truck, doors won't lock, would save a lot of semi embarrassing situations. When it happened to me I was at work, luckily my son was at home and he grabbed the spare and drove the 40 min to rescue me. I would have had to call a locksmith or a car thief to help out otherwise.

 

To your dilema, I've been there. After getting locked out I installed a small lock box on the frame of the truck. I had another valet key cut (not cheap) and it always sits in my lockbox under the truck. I've got my fob that starts the engine wrapped in aluminum foil (so it doesn't influence the normal operation of the door locks) buried inside my truck. If I lose my 'first in' fob I've always got a backup plan. I go offroading enough that it could be a disaster if I had a lockout incident. One last thought, the previous poster mentioned the hitch vault. I bought one and for me, maybe user error, I felt it could be defeated very easily. That's why I ended up using the lockbox attached to the frame. Just my experience. Good luck.

 

On my 2020 sr5, there is no way you can lock your self out of your truck unless you lock it up and loose the keys.

 

A good locksmith should be able to cut you a plain old metal key that will open the door.

Under no circumstances every put it in the ignition, I believe it will trip the anti theft system and it might take a tow to the dealer to make it right again.

You can tape the metal key somewhere with silver foil tape, if the surface is clean and smooth it will stay there for years - make it somewhere genuinely inconvenient like way up inside the rear quarter panel for example.

 

I can tell you on my truck as long as the key is in the ignition, you can't lock the truck either.

 

Unfortunately the OP pulled his out and dropped it on the seat.

 

I understand that, but why did the truck lock themselves out? The way my truck locking system operates, you physically need to use the key to lock the truck electronically, or manually from once you're outside of it. It you lose the keys after you've locked it, your sol. Only way I'm thinking from the op's deal, is if the truck is set in some sort of auto locking mode, once the door is shut.

 

I didn't think this was possible. I've unintentionally tried this before but via the touch sensor on the door handle and it wouldn't lock when my key was left inside. I guess this isn't the case if the lock on the fob is used instead...

 

Probably hit the lock button on the door getting out - it happens.

I have the same style key, pushing the lock button (on the key) with a door open causes the exterior beep to sound continuously and the truck won't lock.
Pushing the lock button (on the door) with the door open does not cause the exterior beep to sound.

 

My truck literally unlocks itself if the key is detected in the vehicle. I'm still paranoid though and throw a window down whenever I do something like this.

 

Around here, the crack heads are rifling through your vehicle when you fill up. So key is in my pocket and truck is locked unless someone is in the truck.

The key you have should be an 'H' key


Early 2000's Toyota vehicles use 'H' keys as well that only had the transponder in them but no remote entry. You can get one of these keys to hid somewhere and just don't program the transponder to start the truck.

 

Happens to the best of us. Next time try pulling out faster.

 

This is what I loved about my 1st Gen. No power windows, so I could just leave the rear sliding window unlocked, and crawl through when needed. I have a horrible habit of locking my keys in the truck.

 

How do they rifle through your truck when you're standing 6 inches away from it?

 

You probably have the smart key, with a push-button start. Some of the manual transmissions still have a conventional chipped key.

 

Ahh that makes sense.

 

I like the idea of getting a metal key cut just for the door locks and then hiding it on the truck, might just go ahead and do that…

 

I have never had it happen, but they sit on the side waiting for you to be distracted and then open up the door on the opposite side or reach through an open window and grab whatever is within easy reach. Cell phones, bags. Etc... they are gone before you even notice.